Silfab Solar® FAQs
Silfab Solar® welcomes the opportunity for the new school to be built near its facility. When the company moved into the light industrial zone, schools were not allowed to be built in these zones. There was a decision by York County Council to rezone our area to allow a school to be built. Our other facilities are next to bodies of water and in the middle of urban areas. Our safety protocols have kept environments and the people around our facility safe.
Additional Documentation:
Silfab Solar® assembly processes will be contained to the inside of the building. We will have a way to release water vapor, like steam, from our cleaning process. This is not a smokestack, it is a wet process scrubber, that will be the same height as our building. Neighbors may occasionally see steam in the winter months due to cold weather. This system removes nearly 100% of all emissions leaving the vapor released far below South Carolina emission standards. The system will be 50 feet tall which matches the height of the building. It will not sit on top of the building. In early designs there were options to have the system on top of the building, but it will be on the side of the building after further consideration.
Silfab Solar® uses certain materials to assemble and clean products. The company has taken best in class steps to reduce any risk to our employees, their families and neighboring communities. Materials used during our assembly processes can all be found in household products. For instance hydrochloric acid is used for food processing i.e. soft drinks, cookies, ketchup and cereals. Hydroflouric acid is used in everyday pharmaceuticals and agriculture. Silane is used to develop smartphones, laptops and cars.
The Local Emergency Planning Committee, York County Office of Emergency Management, Flint Hill Fire Department and the EPA are a part of our planning to ensure that all parties are prepared for any type of unlikely event that may require a response.
Our facility is most comparable to manufacturing and assembly sites that produce textiles, furniture, electrical appliances and electronics, some of which is very well known in both York County and the state of South Carolina. These sites are light industrial. In December 2022, York County verified that are assembly process was approved for the light industrial zone.
As the U.S. seeks to increase the percentage of American-made components of solar modules, South Carolina is one of several states gearing up for domestic solar cell production in the country. Silfab Solar® has over 40 years of experience in the solar industry and since 2010 has been assembling solar panels in North America. A team of highly skilled solar engineers, technicians and scientists with experience in solar cell assembly have been hired to make the South Carolina facility possible. The company puts the health and safety of our employees and the community first. Silfab has taken precautions that exceed any of the requirements put forth by the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) and the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH). These agencies were formally DHEC, the health and environment authority here in South Carolina.
Silfab Solar® is excited to bring this process to the United States which will improve the country's energy independence by increasing locally produced energy generation equipment while eliminating the dependency on foreign countries to develop solar cells for the US solar market.
The recent 2023 Traffic Study showed Silfab Solar® will have insignificant impact on traffic to the community. In the study, Silfab Solar® studied the impact on residents in the neighborhood in addition to major intersections. Silfab adjusted truck deliveries to not occur during peak travel times for local residents, and Silfab Solar® off-shift schedules intend to reduce traffic during peak hours.
No, our assembly process does not result in greenhouse gas emissions or toxic waste emissions. Most of the materials used in the assembly process are consumed into the cell. Any excess materials are neutralized and treated beyond the guidelines established by EPA and DHEC.
No, Silfab Solar® will pretreat any water we use to exceed quality standards from SCDHEC and York County. Any water discharged from our facility is closely monitored and will undergo periodic testing by a certified third-party agency.
The health and safety of our employees is paramount and our top priority at Silfab Solar®. Solar Cell manufacturing is a safe process. Assembly occurs in an ISO 8 self-contained clean room environment with unique air filtration systems and temperature and humidity controls. This system helps keep the assembly process safe and clean.
Silfab Solar® was recruited by York County. During the recruitment process we found that the county had an abundance of skilled workers and a strong local economy. Once we selected York County, we worked to meet all criteria set forth by the county and knew that we could provide a strong economic benefit to residents, businesses, and other public services.
Silfab Solar® is North America’s leading solar assembly company with over 40 years of SOLAR INDUSTRY experience and one of the most trusted warranties in the industry. Our high-quality panels are trusted to power schools, government facilities, and residential homes. We are continuously improving our sustainability efforts by investing in new technology, refurbishing old panels, recycling unused products, or donating them to communities in need.
Silfab Solar® will use significantly fewer trucks than any potential distribution center, which was the original use for the space. We will need at most one truck per hour, while distribution centers could use upwards of 1,000 trucks daily.
Within three years, we are committed to creating 800 new skilled jobs. We project to fill 50% of those jobs within the first year of our operations. Once fully staffed, our estimated payroll will be slightly over $11 million annually.
This process interconnects solar cells through a conductive medium to create the necessary electrical connections for the end user, laminating all the materials together and encasing the laminate in a frame to create a solar panel.
Silfab Solar® is proud to offer nine paid holidays, medical & dental insurance, 401K retirement plan options, critical illness & disability insurance, and vision insurance. We also provide tuition reimbursement of up to $8,000 annually for eligible employees. Employees will also have the potential to earn annual or monthly bonuses based on production.
Yes, Silfab qualifies for York County’s FILOT incentive offer which the County advertises to attract business. The FILOT has specific performance metrics and is subject to repayment provisions if Silfab does not achieve those metrics. The FILOT is not paid from the County’s existing pool of tax dollars, rather it amounts to a reduction of new property taxes generated by the Silfab project.
Silfab’s requested use of the building was deemed by York County zoning staff to be Light industrial. This zoning classification is consistent with the County’s land use plan and all available definitions. An appeal was made to York County Board of Zoning Appeals and Silfab is waiting on an official letter of determination to decide next steps.
Yes.
The solar industry is actively looking to diversify its suppliers. We hope to see significant progress in the reshoring of glass manufacturing as this will support Silfab to further meet its goal of reshoring the solar industry to the United States. One of Silfab’s specific goals is to repatriate solar cell production to the United States to eliminate dependency on foreign suppliers of solar cells in the domestic solar value chain.
Silfab is fully accountable towards repairs and remediation of damages it may cause to the building or site environment under contract with the landlord/property owner and under applicable law. Silfab will ensure insurance coverage for its obligations and compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
No. All solar cell and solar modules assembly processes take place indoors.